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Why HSR now? 2 big reasons not to build it now
Author: Margaret (SP fan)
Date: 12-10-2015 - 00:26
All this huge effort to build High Speed Rail in California ignores 2 facts:
1. The drought
Its effects on whether California can remain a place where people can survive and thrive. Major droughts have destroyed civilizations before, and the one we are now enduring -- if it goes on for, say 10 years longer -- probably will destroy California’s ability to support more than a tiny fraction of its present population.
2. The lack of a really good statewide public transportation system
How will HSR pax get to and from HSR stations? These pax must be able to get door to door without having to use private automobiles. This is not possible now, and will not be for a very long time, as long as monies are wasted on HSR, instead of being spent on creating and running a really good statewide public transportation system. And what are these HSR pax supposed to do with their luggage?
Two examples of the problem: Both BART and Caltrain are often maxed out right now, often running Standing Room Only. And adding more BART and Caltrain capacity will be very expensive. There is simply no way to cram any more people onto BART trains many times. And digging up SF and Oakland to add 2 more BART tracks there, and dropping another double-track tube into the Bay will be extremely expensive -- but may be necessary if the drought goes away.
Building any HSR system now, without first building and running a really good public transportation system is like trying to put icing on a cake that does not really exist. Why do that?
1. The drought
Its effects on whether California can remain a place where people can survive and thrive. Major droughts have destroyed civilizations before, and the one we are now enduring -- if it goes on for, say 10 years longer -- probably will destroy California’s ability to support more than a tiny fraction of its present population.
2. The lack of a really good statewide public transportation system
How will HSR pax get to and from HSR stations? These pax must be able to get door to door without having to use private automobiles. This is not possible now, and will not be for a very long time, as long as monies are wasted on HSR, instead of being spent on creating and running a really good statewide public transportation system. And what are these HSR pax supposed to do with their luggage?
Two examples of the problem: Both BART and Caltrain are often maxed out right now, often running Standing Room Only. And adding more BART and Caltrain capacity will be very expensive. There is simply no way to cram any more people onto BART trains many times. And digging up SF and Oakland to add 2 more BART tracks there, and dropping another double-track tube into the Bay will be extremely expensive -- but may be necessary if the drought goes away.
Building any HSR system now, without first building and running a really good public transportation system is like trying to put icing on a cake that does not really exist. Why do that?
